Hay Pillow®
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Online Store
    • Bulk & 501c3 Discounts
    • Delivery
    • Worldwide Shipping
    • Policies & Terms of Use
    • Newsletter Sign Up
  • FAQ
    • FAQ Library
    • Choosing a Mesh Size
    • Product FAQs/Advisories
    • Mounting & Hanging Tips
    • Slow Feeder Comparison Chart
    • Slow Feed Solutions for Any Environment
    • Feeding Free Choice - An Action Plan
    • Why Feed from the Ground?
  • Testimonials
  • Gallery
    • Home Use
    • Travel Use
    • Barnyard Buddies
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Favorite Links
  • (888) 489-0022
The Hay Pillow Blog

Enhancing Equine Health

browse all posts by topic >

Are You a Prisoner of Feeding? Here's How I Broke Free

2/26/2018

9 Comments

 
By Monique Warren

Are your activities scheduled around - and limited by - your feeding schedule? Are you feeding multiple times throughout the day and night? If so, consider yourself a prisoner of feeding (POF)! 

Is there a way to free yourself? Absolutely! You will be happier and your herd will love you for it. More relaxed herd = more relaxed guardians and vice versa. 

For most of us, we become a POF because we don't want our beloved equines to be overweight or without forage for an extended period of time. And so the multiple feedings begin! I too was a POF: getting up early to feed in the morning, making sure I was home to feed lunch, and feeding late in the evening hours (horses only sleep 3-4 hours throughout a 24 hour period). 
​
Stress associated with feeding horses numerous times a day

What inspired me to write this article? Answering questions and hearing comments from our awesome customers! Most of us cannot comprehend our horse or herd maintaining a healthy weight without limiting access to forage for periods of time. But there is another way.

What I share below I learned through four decades of trial and error. You get to skip straight to the good stuff. And if you want to learn more, feel free to check out ​How to Introduce & Incorporate Free-Choice Forage: An Action Plan - my calculated personal approach to slow-fed, free choice forage. 

My Personal POF Journey & Learning Curve

  • For 30 plus years, I fed a flake or two twice a day in a metal feeder hung on the corral rail and never questioned it. 
  • 12 years ago I started to study nutrition because my mare was insulin resistant. I diligently followed the protocol: 1) Tested my hay to ensure it had less than 10% NSC; 2) Formulated a custom supplement mix to balance out the minerals; 3) Continued to provide routine exercise; and 4) Weighed my hay and fed exactly 2% of my horses body weight because scientifically that was the correct amount to provide. I fed my hay loose in tubs.
  • 11 years ago I discovered the slow feeding concept and purchased a wide variety of products on the market. My horses ate slower but still were without forage for 8-10 hours in a 24 hour period.
  • 9 years ago I started designing and prototyping slow feeders. 8 years ago I invented the Hay Pillow. My horses ate even slower but still were without forage for 4-6 hours in a 24 hour period. Despite my very best efforts, attempting to accomplish free choice forage fed at 2% of their body weight was a fail! Desperate whinnies still greeted me when I arrived at the barn and I felt guilty about their desperation.
  • 3 years ago, despite reading numerous Dr. Getty articles, I remained skeptical about feeding free choice forage. I was talking to a friend about my guilt feelings and she said "just load up enough Hay Pillows to last them between feedings and get over it; they'll be fine!" And thus I embarked on my slow fed free choice forage journey.
  • The end result: It actually worked - and worked really, really well. I quit my job weighing hay and getting up at the crack of dawn to feed. My horses consumed more hay (I knew this by counting poops!) and didn't gain weight!​ ​​​I eventually had to increase the mesh sizes to encourage them to eat more because they started to lose weight - even though they were eating more than they were prior to free choice forage. Wait, what...? Yes - they were eating more, they always had hay available, and they lost weight.

Eating More & Not Gaining Weight?

​Why? Certainly a variety of reasons including, but not limited to:​​
  1. I did my homework by testing and balancing my hay ensuring a less than 10% NSC diet.
  2. Their diet included the vitamins, minerals and nutrients required for proper hormone and thyroid function.
  3. They were not isolated - instead my horses lived together and were able to physically interact with each other. 
  4. Multiple feeding stations were provided outside and under cover to eliminate food aggression, encourage movement, and allow them to eat where they were most comfortable mentally and physically.
  5. Supplied slow feeders and made sure the mesh size enabled them to extract hay without being frustrated. Frustration is counter productive - it causes stress!
  6. After about 1 week of slow-fed, free choice forage, my horses took frequent breaks throughout the day and night consuming their caloric intake more consistently over a 24 hour period. 
Horses eating hay in dry lot from ground slow feed hay bags
Pictured is the Standard Hay Pillow slow feeder; my first Hay Pillow invention.

The Missing Link - Not Considering the Whole Horse (Mentally & Physically)

What made the difference? What had I been missing all those decades ago? Scientifically speaking, my horses were fed an appropriate diet and calories for optimum health while maintaining a healthy weight. But they were stressed - and I was stressed.

In hindsight, I was ignoring the physical and mental aspects of an herbivore and the direct results from the lack of forage. Mental and physical experiences are synonymous in that each has an influence on the other. 
  • Equines produce gastric acid 24/7 in preparation for constant uptake.
  • The average horse produces 16 gallons of gastric acid daily and the stomach only has a 2 to 4 gallon capacity.
  • The lower half of the stomach, in addition to producing the acid, receives protection by also producing mucus. The upper half or non-glandular part has squamous epithelium – similar to our skin which provides no protection and is far more susceptible to damage by gastric acid.
  • The stomach can empty in 20 minutes - 2 hours depending on the type of feed. The math results: 16 gallons divided by 24 hours = .66 gallons per hour - let's assume the stomach empties in 1 hour - with a 3 gallon capacity the gastric acid can reach the upper half of the stomach (1 1/2 gallons) in a little over 2 hours. In addition, the pH of the acid is not being reduced by saliva because chewing activates saliva production. Due to this fact alone, equines were not designed to be deprived of forage long enough for the gastric acid to reach the unprotected upper 1/2 of the stomach. 
  • “It is well-known that horses are trickle feeders that would naturally consume a semi-continuous supply of forage for 40-70% of each 24-hour period,” explains Martine Hausberger, PhD, director of the Laboratory of Animal and Human Ethology, a branch of the French national research center (CNRS) and the University of Rennes. “It is also known that horses can experience gastrointestinal discomfort if deprived of food for a mere one to two hours.” 
  • They determined how often and how long to take breaks from eating. They weren't taking breaks because they ran out of forage.
  • Free choice forage is innate. Horses are designed to eat small amounts over time and move about. Despite domestication it is optimum to provide as many aspects of their innate mental and physical being. Both affect each other.

Is Lack of Forage Stressful?

Absolutely, at least it was for my horses. How do I know?
  • I no longer heard desperate whinnies when I arrived at the barn to feed supplements and replenish Hay Pillows. Most of us can recognize the difference in whinnies and nickers in regards to what they are feeling emotionally.
  • My horses did not anxiously attempt to eat as fast as possible as soon as I provided replenished hay bags - because they were never empty.

Imagine...Breaking Free, Guilt Free

You, too, can free yourself - and your horses. Imagine:
  • Sleeping in and having coffee before you go to the barn and your herd is munching on hay or taking a nap when you get there. 
  • ​Going to dinner with friends after work and your herd is content when you get home.
  • Leaving for the entire day and your herd has plenty of hay when you get back to the barn.
  • Going out of town and having a pet sitter visit only once or twice a day without your herd running out of hay.
  • Running late, caught in traffic, stop at your favorite tack store on the way home? No worries!
  • No more worrying about your herd getting cold in the winter because you know microbial fermentation creates internal body heat. 

Take Home Message

If your horse is not a healthy weight - consider,  in addition to diet and routine exercise:
  • Offering him the most natural lifestyle possible
  • Minimizing any stress factors 
  • Meeting his innate needs physically and mentally

Scientifically, my horses were "fine" without free choice forage. Yet after researching the equine anatomy and witnessing their reaction when I arrived to the barn to feed, I knew I could do better. 

Yes, I spent time improving their diet, but the peace of mind I have is priceless. The results of my journey are also scientific in that my horses daily intake exceeded what was considered the optimum/appropriate amount of forage and yet they maintained a healthy body weight. 

In addition, the only vet bills I've had are yearly dental visits and an occasional chiropractic adjustment. I am not insinuating in any way that free choice forage will prevent or cure any and all sicknesses or diseases. Certainly, minimizing stress factors and addressing diet enables the immune system to function more effectively. I do know my horses are happier and healthier regardless and I'm no longer a POF.  It only took me 42 years to get there! 
Shop Now

​​More Helpful Slow Feed Resources

  • Free Choice Forage Action Plan
  • Feeding Miniature Horses & Donkeys: Why Slow Fed Forage is Best
  • How & Where to Test Your Horse's Hay & Interpret Results
  • Sand Colic - The Surprising (Simple) Cure & Prevention
  • A Safer Always Have Hay Source – Mature Grass Hay
  • 6 Great Reasons to Feed Your Horse from Ground Level
  • 9 Benefits of Slow Feeding Horses
  • 7 Slow Feed Dos and Don'ts for Horses
  • 7 Easy Ways to Help Prevent Colic
  • Never Exercise Horses on an Empty Stomach...Ever
  • Why You Shouldnt Transport Horses On An Empty Stomach
  • Keeping Horses Warm Naturally – Internally and Externally
  • Why Most Horses Prefer to Eat Outside
  • Horse Boredom Busters - Toys & Enrichment Tips for Stall or Pasture

Stay Connected

Follow us on Facebook  for educational daily posts - Instagram & Pinterest!​
​

Want to ​Hear About $ales, Nutrition Tips & Giveaways?

​Be the first to know by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.
subscribe

About the Author:
Monique Warren invented the Hay Pillow® slow feeder and is the owner of Hay Pillow Inc.
​Warren has been an equine guardian for over forty years and slow-feed advocate for over 10 years. She contributes equine nutrition and digestive and hoof health articles to publications such as Equine Wellness, The Journal, The Naturally Healthy Horse,  Natural Horse Magazine, Nicker News, Horse Back Magazine, The Horse's Hoof, and  Miniature Horse World Magazine. Equine nutrition and horses feet are her passions. She resides in Southern California.

​References
  • What You Need to Know About Equine Stomach Acid retrieved from:   https://thehorse.com/110702/what-you-need-to-know-about-equine-stomach-acid/
  • ​All Wound Up: Is Your Horse ‘Stressed Out’? retrieved from: https://thehorse.com/113401/all-wound-up-is-your-horse-stressed-out/
​
9 Comments
Sue Baudanza
3/11/2018 08:41:47 pm

Great article and yes, I'm a POF! I have been using your hay Pillows for years, for all three of my horses. I feed main meals in pillows and small loose hay snacks in between. My sleep is frequently compromised by my need to feed very late night check hay, and still be up at dawn to feed. I'm curious if they gained weight initially in the two adjustment weeks you mention? One of my three is a Morgan pony, most definitely thrifty. So far no issues but probably at risk just based on genetics. I would Love to try this but fear that he would gain too much before beginning to self regulate. Any thoughts appreciated! Thanks, Sue

Reply
Hay Pillow Inc.
3/12/2018 05:08:38 pm

Hi Sue,

Great questions!

I took the most conservative approach by following the guidelines set forth on our How to Introduce & Incorporate Free-Choice Forage: An Action Plan page. https://www.thehaypillow.com/freechoice-forage-action-plan.html . You may also find links to the page on this blog post or hover over the FAQ menu.

No, they did not gain weight over the two weeks.

Horses may or may not gain weight during the transition time depending on how long it takes but will typically lose it quite quickly once they eventually self regulate. There are so many variables including but not limited to:
Diet
Mesh size
Excercise
Environment
Stress level
Metabolically challenged/ leptin resistant

We urge you to follow the above action plan which includes a detailed conservative approach!

Don't hesitate to call should you have any questions 888.489.0022

Reply
Peta
3/20/2018 08:53:12 pm

All my horses have shoes on and 50% are stabled overnight. Currently I weigh out their roughage and check if there is left over in the morning and increase accordingly. This however costs a fortune. Would the hay pillows work

Reply
Hay Pillow Inc.
3/22/2018 02:02:31 pm

Hi Peta,

Any device with netting is not recommended for use on the ground for shod horses. From our product pages: Please note: Due to the dangers involved in using any mesh material that can potentially get caught in a horseshoe, this product should not be used on the ground by shod livestock.

I'm not clear on your comment " This however costs a fortune."

If what you're doing is working, that is great!

Reply
Ellen Hansen
3/22/2018 11:12:48 am

Hello, I think your article about feeding free choice is quite dangerous for owners of severely metabolic and insulin resistant horses. Many of those horses have abnormal levels of the enzyme Leptin, which in a normal horse signals to stop eating when they are full. A horse with abnormal leptin levels, will eat until they die, virtually. 24/7 forage does not work for those horses, and it is very dangerous to recommend 24/7 for horse owners of IR or metabolic horses. You might be interested in the work of Dr. Kellon, who has collected an extensive database and used that with CURRENT AND PERTINENT scientific knowledge to develop a protocol that is 98% effective for horses with those issues. Free choice feeding is strongly discouraged in this program, and backed Up by countless case studies where horses became overweight and laminitic with that practice ( even with tested hay with low sugar content ) https://ecirhorse.com/

Reply
Hay Pillow Inc.
3/22/2018 05:11:20 pm

Hi Ellen,

Thank you for your comment. I completed Dr. Kellon's NRC class 10 years ago and was an active member of the ECIR group. I have tested and balanced my hay since then. We provide a link to Dr. Kellon's and Dr. Getty's websites in most of our blog posts about diet. Their views certainly differ which is why both are presented.

The article is a representation of my personal journey that I felt compelled to share. There are many that have realized the same results as mine.

I have read pertinent scientific information that supports both sides of the spectrum, including journal and Dr. Getty's articles. This is why I took the time to write Feeding Free Choice - An Action Plan which you can review by hovering over our FAQ menu which includes diet, exercise, living environment and more.

There are so many variables that play a role in successful SLOW FED free choice forage. The cases you are referring to may have involved confined and/or isolated individuals receiving no exercise without appropriately slow fed forage.

We suggest:
Diet including but not limited to a tested mature grass hay as an always have hay source.
Routine exercise.
Vitamins, minerals and nutrients enabling proper hormone and thyroid function. Not necessarily NRC minimum requirements which are borderline deficient by striving for optimum levels in the range between minimum and maximum.
Multiple slow feed stations and more.

It certainly involves more than offering loose bales of hay for horses to gorge on.

We encourage all equine guardians to research for their own peace of mind and appreciate your passion.

Reply
J
5/17/2021 07:56:13 pm

This is in response to Ellen's post.

I have 3 metabolic mares, 1 severe IR.
Ours are not always 24/7 forage but pretty close to it. It is has been around five years of trial and error re feed schedules, weighing and testing hay etc.
What I have found is access to forage most of the time in slow feeders, if not all of the time is best for my 3 metabolics (and 1 hard keeper). Hard keeper maintains good wt and 3 metabolics keep trimmer and have healthier feet. There is no doubt in my mind fasting states are super unhealthy for anyone in my herd.

FWIW, my guys are not only slow fed most to all of the time, they are also on a track system which is as equally important to their health as their diet. They are also on a supp formulated for metabolic horses.

Reply
MJ
10/30/2020 01:43:57 pm

This is a great post and full of interesting information. I appreciate your thoughts, research and sharing your own story. However, I am curious as to your thoughts on those of us who are constrained by keeping our horses at a boarding facility, many of which have traditional feeding type programs and are unwilling to change their practices? In my experience in my area there are very few facilities that have different practices. Believe me, I have searched high and low. Even self board facilities this can be a challenge because they are not set up to accommodate free choice as the horses live in in/outs that don't facilitate a lot of movement necessary to balance the free choice hay amounts they will consume. Especially for IR type horses. Even if the owners can exercise their horses every day for an hour, that is still not a very good ratio of food to exercise. So I am just curious if you have any suggestions on how to better our horses lives for those of us that don't have the opportunity to customize feeding programs much. Thanks!

Reply
Hay Pillow Inc.
12/1/2020 03:42:38 pm

Hi MJ,

Great question. I wish I had the perfect solution for those that board their horses. Without complete control of their diet it can be challenging. I would suggest reviewing our article Feeding Free Choice - An Action Plan that you can review by hovering over our FAQ menu which includes diet, exercise, living environment and more.



Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Shop Now:

    Standard Ground Pillow
    Mini Ground Pillow
    ​Hanging Pillow
    ​Manger Hay Pillow
    ​Bale Nets
    Grazing Muzzles
    ​Accessories
    ​Slow Feed Toys & More
    Safety & Emergency ID
    ​Books

    Horses eating from a Hay Pillow

    Newsletter

    Sign Me Up
    Sign up for the Monthly Hay Pillow® Newsletter for $ales, News, Coupon Vouchers & more! ​

    Connect with Us

    Hay Pillow on Facebook
    The Hay Pillow is on You Tube.
    The Hay Pillow on Instagram
    The Hay Pillow is on Pinterest.

    Categories

    All
    Behavior
    Giveaways
    Gut Health
    Hay & Diet
    Health & Safety
    Minis & Farm Animals
    Musings
    Slow Feeding

    RSS Feed

    Hay Pillow Slow Feeder Inventor, Monique Warren.

    Monique
    Warren

    Monique Warren invented the Hay Pillow® slow feeder and is the owner of Hay Pillow Inc.
    ​
    Warren has been an equine guardian for over forty years and slow-feed advocate for over 10 years. She contributes articles on equine nutrition and digestive  health to publications such as Equine Wellness Magazine, The Naturally Healthy Horse, The Journal,  Natural Horse Magazine, Nicker News, Horse Back Magazine, The Horse's Hoof, and  Miniature Horse World Magazine. Equine nutrition and horses feet are her passions. She resides in Southern California.

​Store Information

​​Hay Pillow® Inc.
1444 Main St. #2977
Ramona, CA 92065
​Toll Free:  888-489-0022 
Contact Us
Privacy Policy

Ready to Buy?

​Online Store
Bulk & 501c3 Discounts
Delivery Methods
Worldwide Shipping
Hay Pillow® Policies/Terms of Use
Frequently Asked Questions
​

Why Choose Us?

​About Us
​Testimonials
Gallery

​Made in the USA!

Learning Center

​Blog: Enhancing Equine Health
FAQ Library
​Why Feed Horses from the Ground?
7 Slow Feed Do’s and Don’ts for Horses
Feeding Free Choice - An Action Plan
Slow Feed Solutions for Any Environment

Covered by 3 or more US patents.​ Hay Pillow® is a registered Trademark.
​Copyright © 2022 Hay Pillow® Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Hay Pillow on Facebook
Hay Pillow Inc on Instagram
Hay Pillow on You Tube
Hay Pillow on Pinterest
  • Home
  • Shop
    • Online Store
    • Bulk & 501c3 Discounts
    • Delivery
    • Worldwide Shipping
    • Policies & Terms of Use
    • Newsletter Sign Up
  • FAQ
    • FAQ Library
    • Choosing a Mesh Size
    • Product FAQs/Advisories
    • Mounting & Hanging Tips
    • Slow Feeder Comparison Chart
    • Slow Feed Solutions for Any Environment
    • Feeding Free Choice - An Action Plan
    • Why Feed from the Ground?
  • Testimonials
  • Gallery
    • Home Use
    • Travel Use
    • Barnyard Buddies
  • Blog
  • About
    • About Us
    • Contact
    • Favorite Links
  • (888) 489-0022